They beat the Brits in 14 straight world championship or world cup races, forcing the British officials to admit defeat and move them into the coxless four for the Games. The Kiwis were unbackable favourites for the final. They had set a world best time in their heat, 6min 8.5s.
Sir Steve Redgrave, Britain's five-time Olympic champion, said the race was for second.
French pair Germain Chardin and Dorian Mortelette gave some early cheek, led marginally at 500m and were hanging on at 1.51s down at halfway. Which was when Murray and Bond surged clear and as they powered down the course, eased away from their rivals, who were powerless to keep the margin respectable.
In the end, the New Zealanders clocked 6:16.65, 4.46s ahead of the French with Britain third.
There is a fresh challenge for Murray and Bond. Redgrave and Sir Matthew Pinsent were undefeated between their two Olympic golds in the same class in 1992 and 1996.
Bond said afterwards: "Before the semis I said we were at the Hillary Step, with the summit in sight. But now we're there and no one can take that away from us. Whatever happens in the future we'll know that over these four years we've achieved anything anyone could have set out to do in the pair."
Forty minutes later, Mahe Drysdale had his single scull title, and New Zealand had another golden Olympic hour to match Sir Peter Snell and Sir Murray Halberg at Rome 52 years ago.
Selections so far
Valerie Adams
Shot put Olympic gold medallist
Jo Aleh and Polly Powrie
Olympic gold medallists
The Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic
ANZ netball champions.
New Zealand Breakers
NBL champions
Nathan Cohen and Joseph Sullivan
Olympic gold medallists
The Chiefs
Super 15 champions
Hamish Bond and Eric Murray
Olympic gold medallists
Mahe Drysdale
Olympic gold medallist
Lisa Carrington
Olympic gold medallist
More to be named throughout the week
